family Mastodontidae
Definition
- Noun:
- A taxonomic family of extinct proboscidean mammals: "Family Mastodontidae" refers to a now-extinct biological family within the order Proboscidea, which includes the mastodons. These were large, tusked mammals distantly related to elephants and mammoths.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The fossil record provides extensive evidence for the family Mastodontidae across North America.
- Scientists study the teeth of the family Mastodontidae to understand their diet and ecology.
Advanced Usage
- In paleontological classification: The term is used in scientific contexts to group species with common characteristics under the genus (or similar genera) within this extinct family.
- The assignment of new fossil specimens to the family Mastodontidae requires careful analysis of dental morphology.
Variants and Related Words
- Mastodont (n): A common name for a member of the family Mastodontidae.
- The mastodont was a browser, feeding on leaves and branches.
- Mastodonic (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of mastodons or the family Mastodontidae.
- The dig uncovered mastodonic bones.
- Mammutidae (n): A synonymous family name sometimes used in taxonomic classification.
- Some systems refer to the family Mammutidae instead of Mastodontidae.
Synonyms
- Mastodon family: A less formal synonym.
- Family Mammutidae: A scientific synonym used in alternative taxonomic classifications.
Related Terms (Contextual)
- Proboscidea: The larger order to which the family Mastodontidae belongs, which also includes elephants (Elephantidae) and mammoths (Mammuthus).
- Gomphotheriidae: Another extinct family of proboscideans, often discussed in contrast to Mastodontidae.
Noun
-
extinct family: mastodons
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